06.28.10

All morning, while we were getting ready, I talked to Ayla about how I was going back to work today. She kept saying "no" and wanted me to hold her. Once we got to my parents' house and she started playing and running around, she was totally fine. We both did just fine. :)

She was a very happy girl today...total 180 from how she was yesterday. I think last night she was just getting me back for leaving her for a week.

I wanted just a couple more pictures but she refused to look at me so I used my friend Erika's trick--I told her there was a butterfly in the camera. Hehe. It definitely got her attention, but not only did she not look at me, her expression completely changed and she insisted on seeing the butterfly as she walked towards me. I had to tell her it flew away. :)

My Happy Place

We just spent the last week on the beautiful island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was our fourth visit there (third time staying on the island) and it was as great as we remembered. Our friends, Ryan and Nicole joined us for the trip and we had a really fun week together. Unfortunately, the weather did not agree with us for most of the time. It didn't just rain...it poured Saturday and Sunday. However, we made the best of it and had a couple of crazy days playing card games, dominos, and enjoying a few too many Caribbean beers. The locals kept telling us that the weather this month has been extremely out of the ordinary. All I can say is better luck next time...I know we'll be back.

We rented a two bedroom villa with a pool and a view...it was at the top of the biggest hill ever. We walked up and down it once and I thought I was going to pass out by the time we reached the top. I swear we were climbing at a 45 degree angle. If you were to trip and fall, I would bet that once you were down, you'd roll right down the hill with no chance of stopping. I was sore for the next two days...all from that 10-minute walk up the hill. Shows you how in shape I am.

We had a great week filled with awesome food, drinks, meeting new people, hanging out at the beach, and shopping. On our last full day there, we chartered a sailboat to bring us over to Jost Van Dyke (British Virgin Island). This is the fourth time I've been on a sailboat but the first time there has been enough wind to really sail without the motor being on. What an incredible feeling. There's nothing like sitting on a sailboat, in the Caribbean nonetheless, with my legs dangling over the edge and the wind in my hair while staring at the gorgeous scenery. It is so peaceful. I felt like I had to pinch myself every now and then. Lucky, lucky me. It always ends up being my favorite part of the trip.

I am in love with this island. Dean and I visited it for the first time five years ago for our honeymoon and we've been hooked ever since. It's the definition of relaxation...a really low-key type of place with the most beautiful beaches I have ever layed eyes on. The only negative thing about it is the fact that I get bit up. No amount of bug spray can keep the mosquitoes and no-see-ums away from me. For the entire week, my skin is an all-you-can-eat buffett for the little buggers. Sucks. I come home with dozens upon dozens of welts of all different sizes. And I have absolutely no will power, so I scratch and scratch and scratch. Miserable, yes. Worth it? Totally. I know Dean and I will continue to go there every few years. Before we even leave the island each time, we talk about when to go back.

It's a lot easier to leave though, knowing that Ayla is home waiting for us. I couldn't wait to see her and pick her up and cover her with kisses. Since we didn't get home until midnight, we had planned for her to stay with Grandma and Grandpa for one more night. After we got up this morning, we went to pick her up. Just a few months ago when we went to Cancun, she didn't really seem to care when we got home. This time, she actually was genuinely happy to see us. It was so cute. And when she saw me holding the little souvenirs we got her, she asked me to sit down and was excited to pull each little thing out of the bag. After she woke up from her nap, she was extremely clingy. She didn't want me to put her down and if I did, she didn't want me out of her sight. I don't know if she was afraid that I was going to leave again or what. She eventually snapped out of it by bedtime and was her usual self. Hopefully she wakes up in the morning in a good mood. :)

After over a month off, I'm heading back to work tomorrow. Boo. Pity party for me. It's been a great several weeks...I suppose it's time to join the real world again. :)

06.17.10

Ayla didn't sleep as soundly as usual last night. This morning she woke up with a fever. :( I gave her a shot of Motrin and for the first couple hours of the morning, she laid with me on the couch. Very unlike her. After a while, she wasn't as hot as before and when I took her temperature, it was back to normal and she started acting like herself again. I don't know what's going on...she doesn't have any other symptoms besides not eating or drinking well. She's napping right now so I can only hope that she wakes up feeling okay. It worries me since Dean and I are leaving for our trip on Saturday. I know she'll be fine with both sets of grandparents but I hate knowing that I won't be here for her if she doesn't feel well. I'm 30 and I still want my mom when I'm sick.

I haven't taken any pictures today...the ones below are just random ones from this past week.


The dress that she's wearing in the next one (coloring at Yeh-Yeh and Nai-Nai's house) comes with a good bargain story. :) I had a free $10 card for Carter's plus it was already 60% off. Grand total that came out of my pocket? 43 cents! It was originally $26! I walked away a very happy woman.

Piper Rose

I've taken pictures of Piper, who will be nine-months old next week, a couple of times...she gets cuter everytime I see her. Those blue eyes just kill me...

06.15.10

Ayla and I spent the morning and part of the afternoon with my parents today. She was oh-so-thrilled to see her Yeh-Yeh and Nai-Nai...and vice-versa. :) I wanted to try and slowly get her readjusted to being over there, so I hesitantly tried putting her down for a nap. My mom used to rock her to sleep but we're trying not to do that anymore. She laid in there and talked for an hour and five minutes before she finally fell asleep! Crazy girl. Who knew she had so much to say. :)

06.13.10

Another great weekend...the first couple of pictures are from Thursday (before the whole hurt elbow thing).

She found her tutu and put it on and refused to take it off for a couple of hours.

We went to a garage sale right down the street and found this table and chairs set for ten bucks! I've actually been searching for some old wooden chairs to use for photography purposes but once we had it in the house, Ayla loved it so I don't have the heart to just turn around and sell the table and only keep the chairs. It's a really great, sturdy, well-built set. It's hard to find stuff like that these days. Looks like we have something else to take up room in our house. I'm thinking about refinishing it or painting it.

Friday was a top ten day for us. She was such a happy girl all day...giggly, smiley, and funny.
I took her out to lunch by myself for the very first time ever. Can you believe it took me over 20 months to work up the courage to do it? I'm sorry I didn't do it until nearly the end of my month off with her. She more than surprised me. Not that she's absolutely horrible or anything when we go out to eat, but she gets to a point where she just doesn't want to sit anymore and wants to leave and I was nervous about that without Dean there to help. On Friday, she happily sat in the highchair and we ate our food with no problem at all. She was so friendly with the people around us while she munched away on her lunch. She also had her first taste of chocolate milk...oh boy. :) She was probably the best she's ever been while out to eat. Lucky me!

Totally blurry cell phone pic, but I'll take whatever I can get.

I think I've already said this, but I really can't believe my parents will be home from their nearly month-long trip tomorrow night. I honestly didn't think that being a stay-at-home mom would be something that I could do, but after this month, it's what I want to do. Of all the times I've been able to stay at home with her for extended periods, this time has been the best and most fun. She is an absolute riot and I've loved being by her side for every moment. *Sigh* I do have to return to work eventually...I'm so lucky to get these breaks here and there. But before I go back, Dean and I are going to St. John (without her). It's definitely going to be a huge adjustment going from being with her 24/7 for a month to not seeing her for more than a week...the longest I've ever gone without her. Thank goodness for Skype!